The Hartford Police Union has responded to the Hartford Police Department saying they were "embarrassed" by a Donald Trump sticker spotted inside a patrol car.
"The Hartford Police Union does not feel our membership needs to be belittled by the command staff in the media by stating they were embarrassed by the officers actions based solely on the candidate the officer may have been supporting," Sgt. Rich Holton, president of the Hartford Police Union, said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Hartford police apologized and launched an internal investigation after the Trump sticker was seed inside a patrol car and a photo of the sticker began circulating on social media.
The sticker, which was on top of a police laptop, has since been removed and all officers have been reminded to "remain politically neutral," Deputy Chief Brian J. Foley said in an email.
Foley said the department is "embarrassed and sorry for this lack of professional judgment."
The Hartford Police Union said any violations of department policy should be investigated without prejudice and that the actions of an employee should not be commented on prior to an investigation.
"Our membership firmly supports every American citizens right to support whichever candidate they feel would be a valued addition to our government, yet we also feel someone should not be vilified in the media based on their political beliefs," Holton said on behalf of the Hartford Police Union.
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According to the Hartford police department, the officer in question was "counseled on the critical importance of remaining neutral and impartial." The department said they also reached out directly to many community leaders to apologize.